Karen Lowry

Writer | Poet | Casual Academic | Graphic Designer || she/her

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I have a poem about losing my Dad to cancer in this anthology. Holidays are hard when there is someone missing from the table

[Hunter Writers' Centre @hunter_writers]

We are thrilled to announce the final award in the 2022 Grieve Comp. Thank you @NalagNsw for being with us since the beginning of the Grieve project 10 years ago. We are honoured to share this past decade w/ your wonderful org & thank you for your generous prize donation of $1500

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I'm stoked to see closed captions being used at the @perthfest live events this writer's weekend. It makes it so much more accessible for me.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

As a disabled writer, I have a lot of trouble making it to regular writing meet-ups. Does anyone know of groups in Australia that meet online? #WritingCommunity

[Nicole Filippone, Autistic Advocate & Author @sensorystories_]

Why is this so difficult to understand?

Asking for a friend 😬😅

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

Today, our dog was eating a pig ear and got it stuck in his mouth. My husband immediately soothed him and freed the food. What did I do? I assumed the dog had impaled himself on the pig ear and responded by FLEEING THE SCENE. My neurodivergent brain is not good in a crisis.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

When I go grocery shopping, I only take in reusable bags that were bought from that chain... I will not go into Coles with a Woolworths bag. I've no idea why I'm like this. Please tell me I'm not crazy and you do this too.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

@BrettAuthor Yes the attention to detail certainly earned them a pass

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

My students had an assignment due yesterday - this email has made my week.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

@BrettAuthor I like that he's clearly copied a 'Z'from elsewhere .

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I'm in the USA and have paid for my brothers tickets, accommodation etc as his birthday present. My mother is also and we were talking about the price of the Bellagio Hotel I booked for us. My brother goes, "No offence, mum, but if I win Lotto, Karen's getting the first Ferrari"

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I've got no idea where I found this....but I feel this would be a guaranteed way into my pants.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

This cake marks my first attempt at writing in buttercream.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

@Amys_Kapers Yes me too. I got stuck in an algorithm loop for a while on spotify and never got anything new. I've had to go searching for old and new albums I want to listen to

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

Today, I'm rediscovering Hilary Duff's album, Metamorphosis. 'So Yesterday' is early noughties music at its peak.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

@Amys_Kapers Yes me too! I played this CD on repeat for so long. A little bit of nostalgia is always a nice way to start the week.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

98kg today. At my heaviest, I was 110kg. When my mental health was poor, I really let myself go. I'm glad to see the weight coming off quickly now, though. I'm back into double digits! Next goal: 89kg.

[Dr. Jen Wolkin | ADHD + Trauma Therapist @drjenwolkin]

Grief and gratitude can co-exist.

So proud of you for surviving, AND you get to grieve the things trauma cost you.

Often, trauma and grief are intertwined.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I've always called myself emphatic, so this is a game changer for me. No more hypervigilance. No more mind-reading.

[Dr. Nicole LePera @Theholisticpsyc]

The end result of childhood trauma is adults who believe their role is to decode and control other people's emotional states.

This is not empathy: it's hypervigilance.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

I'm also so honored to know the incredible @bplowry - he has taken on a lot of hardships for me these last 5 years while I struggled my mental health. We all need a Ben in our lives - someone who makes everyone in the room feel comfortable just by talking.

[Karen Lowry @kazzalo]

Another update on my #burnout recovery: I shaved today for the first time in, like, 5 years. It had gotten so bad that I RAN OUT OF HOT WATER. I've also lost 9kg - 1kg to go for the first weight loss milestone. I'll share more on that (incl. starting weight) when I get there.